The Stone Frigate Big Band brings the big band sound to a playlist that features the greatest hits of the swing era and the American Songbook, alongside R&B and pop music favourites and well-known Latin and jazz charts.

The Stone Frigate Big Band was formed in October 1995 at HMCS UNICORN, Saskatoon’s Naval Reserve Division, one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s “stone frigates”. Over the years we have played at public and private functions at locations around Saskatchewan that include Club Jazz at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, The Bassment, TCU Place, a number of hotel ballrooms and the Dekker Theatre in North Battleford. We have been regulars at Danceland, the famed swing-era dance hall at Manitou Beach, for over a decade.

We believe in the importance of encouraging young musicians to continue playing after high school and, over the years, have provided support and funding to a number of high school band programs and a scholarship for members of audition bands at the University of Saskatchewan.

The Stone Frigate Big Band is:

Vocals
Robyn Knight, Matt Wolsfeld

Saxophones
Leena Thomas, Carey Hydamacka, Nathan Degenhart, Albert La, Louis Christ

Clarinet
Carey Hydamacka

Trumpets
Doug Agnew, Todd Linsley, Curtis Pippin, Bill Busche*

Trombones
Kelly Kudryk, Peter Steckhan, Kendra Worman, Scott Theede

Rhythm
Sean Cocks (guitar), Matt Wolsfeld (piano), Joan Steckhan (bass), Vincent Laniece (drums)

Harmonica
Doug Agnew, Bill Busche*

Auxiliary Percussion
Kelly Kudryk, Robyn Knight

Technical
Mike Steckhan

*Bill Busche played with the band from its earliest days until his passing on January 14, 2017. He lives on with us in spirit and on many of the demo recordings on this site. He is featured on harmonica on the recordings of Front Burner and Flip Flop and Fly.